Boiler-feed water system



May 29, 11923,. l

...a nl

May .29, B923.

G. W. COPE BOILER FEED lWATER SYSTEM ,Mining-, T

Patented May 29, 1923.

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enoaen vv. corn, or oIL CITY, LOUISIANA. v

BOILER-FEED WATER SYSTEM.

Application ledOctober 18, 1920. SerialiNo. 417,725.

To @ZZ whom t may Concern Be it known that I, GEORGE IV. Compa citizen of the United States, residing at Oil City, in Caddo Parish and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boiler-Feed IVater Systems, 0f which the following is a specification.

My inventionhas relation to a feeder for automatically introducing` water to a boiler at stated periods, -said periods being determined by the water level in the boiler, and in such connection it relates more particularly to the construction and arrangement of parts constituting such a feeder.

In the operation of steam plants, and particularly steam heating or steam supply systems, it is important that the boiler be supplied with water at required times, and it is desirable that the introduction or feeding of the water to the boiler be automatically controlled by the rise or fall of water inthe boiler.

My present system 0f feeding water tothe boiler is designed to meet these requirements i by the 4use of means of suitable construction and arrangement, and which, when properly assembled, assures absolutely and accurately the periodic discharge to the boiler-.of water in required volumes.

y In the carrying out of my invention, there is provided first an'elevated reservoir, or source of water supply feeding by gravity to a stationary tank elevated some distance above the water level of the boiler, and said Stationary tank has a discharge pipe leading to the water chamber of the boiler, and a direct connection between the top of the tank and the steam chest or steam chamber of the boiler. This stationary tank receives and discharges at periodic intervals the water to be fed to the boiler.

Secondzthere is provided in connection with the charging stationary tank and its steam Connection with the boiler a means for automatically 'controlling the supply of steam to the charging tank, at the required period of time, said means comprising in its elementary form, a water receptacle supported normally in a plane some distance above the highest level of the water in the boiler and connected with the boiler in such manner'as to cause the said water receptacle to fill from said boiler and when said water receptacle is in direct connection with the steam chest the water yin the water receptacle will return to said boiler,fthus causing said water receptacle to-vibrate periodically and thereby control theoperation of the valves on'pipes conducting steam to the stationary charging tank and t0 t-he receptacle.

. Third: there isl provided in connection with the` charging tank and the meansfor automatically cutting off 'the supply `of steam to said tank, a secondary means' for controlling the movement of the automatic steam cut-olf means, said secondary means comprising a cylindrical vessel arranged to vibrate with the fluctuations in the water level, said vessel being normally supported in a plane which is substantially the level of the water in the boiler, and connected directly with the steam chamber of the boiler and with the water chamber of said boiler by a flexible supporting means to permit of its vibration in response to fluctuations in water level in said boiler, and

Fourth: to provide in conjunction with the charging tank its valved steam supply pipe and the means for cutting off the steam supply pipe from said tank by the operation of the valves of a means to gradually apply boiler pressure of steam upon the water in said tank, said means comprising essentially a valved by-pass, the valve of said `ley-pass being operated previously to the operation of the valve of the steam supply pipe by saidI cut-off means, to lessen the volume of steam entering the tank initially.

In addition to the foregoing named instrumentalities and means, there are provided other and further details of construe-` tion of preferred form and arrangement, the nature of which will bel more fully explained in the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, form-- ing part hereof, in whichy Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating more or less diagrammatically the arrangement of a water lfeed system embodying the main features of; my invention.

' Figure 2 lis aside view, partly sectioned, of the same.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view illus-' trating inside elevation, and in section the steam cut-off valve, the by-pass valve and connections. l f Figure 4t is a `cross-sectional view of the two-way cross fitting containing swivel couplings through which Ithe water receptacle communicates with the boiler.

Figure fisga `cross-sectional.,view of the i jet forheating the' Water in the mainreser voir.

Figure 6 is a perspectiveview of a check valve interposed in the pipe leadingfrom the Water chamber of the boiler tothe vibrating receptacle, and y Figure 7 is a sectional detail'view of a check valve'on the charging tank.. s i Referring to the drawingsfl represents 'i the boiler and 2 theelevated-"feed Water Well vor reservoir. i Above the' Water level of the and to prevent ya vacuum but not from the boiler 1.

'boiler' is locatd 'the charging tank 4,'Whi`c-h -isin direct communication at orl near its base, With the Well 2 by means of a stand 'pipe 5, the entrance'endV of which ispreferably con- 'trolled by a check valve 6. Apip'e 7 connects the 'Water chamber.

oftheboiler 11 with the tank-4', andjinzthis pipe 7 is located a check lvalvew8`, which permits of flowl of water to,

is located a check Atthe top-of tank4 opening valve 4a`illustrated inA Figure .7,

into rtank 4 and arranged to stand `open by gravity. Valve 4Hz=serves as an'iair. relief forming intank 4, it being desirable to 'lill tank 4 nearly full of Water,bygravityy and to maintain a'spacc foivsteam above the Water'level. f A At the top of the charging tank 4 is lo. cated a steampipe 11,*lea'dingfrom the tank 4 tothe steam chamber ofthe boilerl'.- "For sake of c'onv`enience,the` pipe '11 is shown entering'the dome 1, but it may `communicate vWith the's'team chamber of boiler 1` at.

- any desired poi-nt.` On the pipe 11 is'located a valve 12,5the operation of which is automatically controlledas hereinafter 'exp'lained.

Thesteam pipe 9'is provided with a cross fitting 13 supp0rting by means of` stuffing boxesv 14 and 15, the members 16Hand 17 of.

f a hollow framejthe members 16 and 17 tilting in' the stuffingv boxes 14 and 15 inf'the cross fitting 13. This cross fitting 13 is partitioned V(see Figure 4) so as to `divert the steam from the boiler through the pipe 9by the ymember 16 of the holloiv'frameto a Water receptaclef181- The yhollow member 16 extends` upward in WaterV receptacle" 18 fin the form of a pipe 19. i-

f Thel hollow memberf'17'servesas themeans for permitting normally of the dischargeof Water' direct'from the boiler 1 'through pipe 17L to the bottom of receptacle18 and vice *.Versa. ",The'receptacle 18V is' suspended by chain 20 passing over pulley 21, "suspendedl i preferably from ypipe 11,-or other ,'ixture,

and'having the countervveight 22 at its free' end. Thisl Weiight22'isY so 'adjusted that when' receptacle 18 1s nearly full of Water, there'- ceptacle Will f fall and Will reinain'in its *loivermost position until it has/'emptied a portion of its contents directly into boiler 1 throughpipev 17a. 'i

r When receptacle 12S-rises primary'V exhaust pipe 25 j leads from tank 4to the elevatedvvell or reservoir 2, and terminates in a jet 28 in Well 2. A Weighted vvalve 25a 'on pipev 25 is 'held' `closed under m normalpressure ofsteam in pipe 11 when receptacle 18 descends pulling upon cord 25?.

valve lever isstrong enough to open valve v under the maximum steam pressure;

g .Exhaust pipe 25- being proportionately smallseiveslto more eft'ectually seat check Valve y ,l v

The well 2 is @also connected bypipe 429 knfith'p'ipe 11', the pipe 29=terminating lwithin i' lthe Well 2in a' jet 30. A Weighted'va'lve 31 onv pipev29 is held closed under-"normalpres,

sure of steam in pipe 11 when the receptacle 18 descends pulling.' .upon the cord," 31a.

the Weight of theA When the receptacle risesand lstea'inis exhausted from. pipey11 through pipe 25= and valve 254? thewxveight of thev valve: lever is lstrong-enough to open the valve 31,.ai'id per.- mit steam to flow to the jet 30. .'.Exhaust pipe 29 `gives better capacity. i

' They constructionand arrangement ',of each jet 28 or 30 is shown inl Figure 5. Thepipe 25, for instance",terminatesin aT 32, carryingthe two branch pipes 33. This T coupling 34 andsecured therein by theset screw 35. The coupling 34 has two lateral branch pipes or tubesk 36, each enclosing a pipe 33, and extending some, distance beyond the same. The

comprises afvessel 40, vsuspended from pipe 5, or othertixture, by ymeans of ti'ie spring 42,'and resting in its depressed position-in aseat 43, supported by the pipe 71. bottom-Of this vessel 40 issupportedaby the frame consisting lof the" side ymembers 44v and-44a connected by end member 45. The endv member 45 oscillatesginy ai cross fitting 46, and stuffing box v46, theiitting communicating by pipe 47'With the'livater chamber of` boiler 1. is. a- Water conveyor, connecting ythe bottom of vessel 4() directly With the'Water chain- The tside member 44` ber of the boiler 1, Whilstthe other sidev 1 member.r `44a is solid, and present 1 only;to coinpletetheiframe.' l i* The upper portion of vessel 40y communicates by flexible pipe' connection Withlthe steam chamber viof boiler 1'. 1 Such a*y pipe connection can `be secured by preferenceby.'

connecting one end of a pipe 49 by rigid elbow 48 with the vessel 40. A flexible pipe 51 connects pipe 49 with a pipe 52 entering the steam chamber of the boiler 1.

' The vessel 40 is flexibly supported at a pass into thetank 4 through the main pipeheight corresponding to the normal water level of the boiler 1, and under the varying water level insaid boiler, water will flow from the boiler to the vessel 4() when the water in the boiler reaches vthe maximum height, and will flow back again from ves#k sel 40 to the boiler when water levelk in boiler 1 is lowered and the vessel will be elevated. The vessel 40 thusvvibrates, being assisted by the spring 42 by which it is supported, and thel flexible connection of pipe'49 -with pipe 52 permits of this vibration without breaking theV steam connection between the vessel 40 and boiler 1.-

Beyond the cross fitting 46 the ends of the frame are connected by a member 53, which supports an upwardly projecting nger 54, oscillating with the frame when the vessel 40 vibrates.v The finger 54 co-operates with a leg or prop 55 connected to and depending from the vreceptacle 18 in such a manner ythat when vessel 40 and its frame descend, the free end of linger 54 swings away from the prop 55, and the base or seat 56v of the finger contacts with the prop and the receptacle 18 is heldin an elevated position. 1Vhen, however, the vessel 40 and its frame ascend, the finger 54 forces the prop 55 out of seat 56, and permits the prop and receptacle 18 to descend.

One of the main objectsof my present invention is to relieve the stationary or charging tank- 4 of the water hammer or thrust whichA would .be caused by the sudden extrance of a large volume of steam at high speed from the pipe 11 to the tank especially during that period of time when the water in the tank is agitated.

To accomplish this, the preferred construction and arrangement of valves and connections illustrated in detail in Figure 3 are used. f The valve 12 is held on its seat or in closed positionv by means of a spring 60 assisted bythe steam pressure back of the valve. The valve stem y61 projects through a stuffing box 12a, and is engaged by the pivoted arm 62.

v `The free end of arm 62 is connected by cord. 63y with interposed spring 64, or by an elastic connection with the cross rod 65 connecting the two hollow members 16 and 17, supporting the receptacle 18. The valve 12 'l is normally closed and held to its seat by steam pressure assisted by spring 60. The spring 64 on cord 63 is employed in opening the valve 12 under partly balanced conditions only of steam pressure. The spring 64 therefore permits the vibration of the larger valve 12 on its seat under variations of .pressure and momentum of the cur-.

rent of steam in= the inlet lpipe. 11. This vibratory `movement of valve 12` through spring 64 prevents the -water lhammer in tank 4.,- i l' i Y If the steam were permitted initially `to 11, its entrance intosaid tank4, and itslcon'- densation and rarefaction therein would causeathrust or water hammer' in tank 4,

and tend toV disrupt the apparatus. To compensate for this, I permit a 'small current of steam to enter before the valve i12 is operated.- To i accomplish this .a bypass `pipe leads from the pipe 11 ata point in front of valve 12,-and re-enters pipe 11 at a point beyond said valve 12. -In pipe 70 is located a valve 71 corresponding tovalve 12 in all essential particulars, havingv the spring72 normally pressing the valve upon its seat, yand a valve stem 7 3 projecting through stulling box 74 to be 4operated by a lever, arm 7 5. This arm 75 is connected at its free end by a cord or `chain 7 6, with the cross rod 65. f

Inasmuch as the cord. or chain 76 has no spring and is not. elastic,A the ymovement downward of receptacle 18 will immediately open valve 71 before valve 12v can be operated f y In the operation of my feed water system,

the charging' tanky 4 is fed by gravity with hot water Vfrom the well 2.l The pressure of steam upon the water in `boiler 1 will lmaintain the check valve 8, and pipe 7 closed until tank 4 is full, or substantially full, and ready-tol discharge. When the water level in boiler 1 is below normal, the water in vessel 40 will flow into the boiler and said vessel will raise to releasethe prop 55.

Thel receptacle 18 which is full, or substantially full, of water will now descend, and in descending will operate byepass valve71 and main valve -12 to admit steam under pressure to tank v4. The water in tank 4 and pipe 7 is thus forced into the water chamber of the boiler 1, the check valve 8 opening to permit the flow of the water under pressure to the water chamber of the boiler. As the water level in boiler rises to normal, a portion flows through pipe 47 into -vessel 40 which then descends. The prop 55- carried by receptacle 18 is then raisedyavnd the parts resume their former position.

To decrease the pressure l"of steam in receptacle 18, a valve 81' controlsthe opening and closing of the pipe 9, and said valve 81 has its operating lever 82 connected by cord 83with the lever of valve 31. When the receptacle 18 ascends the valve 81 closes and condensation decreases the pressurei-n receptacle 18 and the water is driven from boiler 1 through the openings in check valve 84, see Figure .6, said openings being of a predetermined size to allow receptacle 1,8

to lillvfroinfboile'r i inlthe'same time re-v quired jfor tank yfl to ill'from'well 2, but

l lwhenthefrecept'a'cle descends the Avalve v8l will be opened and boiler pressure established in reeeptacle 18 and the :receptacle 18 "will discharge fthrough"y the Ihand valve 85 inthe'time required tor'tan'k-L-to disch-arge Indo" notjeonne myvinventionftlefthe use yofy valve 'illustrated inl'lliigurev 6,y as vfun'der some'l'conditions this valvel 'may bedispensed Ysteam lboilers 'tankfl situated 'above' the' boiler-pressure upon the H-avingithus'f deseribe'd thevnat-ure I and obi Ajects of my invention, 'rwhi'chl'fI claim 'as new, and desirei to secure .byi Letters Patient-,515: 'L; l .V1.-="?Infa' '-l gravity'A feed 'waterV .systemVJ 'for having 'a' charging l tank, said boiler wat'ervlevel 'andlhaving avalvedf *waterlffinletf@and a valved-` water connectionzwith 'l the l boilers water space and havin-g i valvedgsteam connections with the steamspace of lthe-boiler an air inlet and outlet land arva-llvedsteam foutletf Combined 'withl means lfor' operating fthe-waives of saidV4 valvedsteam'ilnl'et and gradually 'establishing -Waterin said tank to thereby prevent the yhigh, speed flow ofs'a -largejvolume ot steam upon 'the water in saidl means comprising essentially` a 'primary bildet-1 means for steam inlet, a valv'e'in saidprima'ry steam' inlet; means connecting the `valve Withthe vvalve ,operati-ng means,l a` secondary steam inlet, a valve-in saidsse'condary' steam inlet, andffanelastic connection connecting the yalveof thev secondary steaminl'et withthe valve operating'means." i. y

.2. In agravityffifeed Dwatersystem for steam-boiler having a vchargingy tank'.'sai`d 'charging 'tank/situated above theq'boile'r water :level and provided with a `valve-"d water? inlet'f anda lvalved" water ydischarge `connection withnthe boiler water? space.` a

va'lvledst'earn connection A-w'ithjv `the boiler steam space,` an airinlet andfoutlet' and i the-'tank'and thewater space ot" thejboiler,

a val'vedi-exhaust pipe leading from the tank, an'air inlet and outlet,'afpr1l1nary valved steam "i connection between s the f stationary tank and prevent' a water hammer, said 'charging `tank and 'saidy boiler, a' v secondary "valvedvsteam connection between the sta'- tionary charging-1 ta'nk 'and said"boiler,f a y,

vibratory receptaclethe topuo-"which has a 'valved steam connection with, 'the boilers steam spacelandthe bottomfof which .v has discharge and lret-urn water connections with theboilers water' space, said "-vibratory re'- ceptacle "arranged tor receivefan'dfreturn Iwater fromL `-andVV to thel i boiler, #means `for limiting the movement- 'off-said vibratory rel cepta'cle, means for automatically ,f vibratingr said vibratory receptacle, meansfconnecting the vibrat'ory receptacle with the `valve the exliaust'pipe and vthe-ivalvefo the pri-l mary steam connectionig of fthe Astationary charging tank and the valveot itso'vvnsteam connection to thereby" operate saidyal'veS, and an elastic-'connection between the vibra'- toryy receptacle and theV valve*offfthe'sec-y onjdary 'steam c'onnec'tio'not the 'stationary charging "tankto thereby attectjthe operation of l.saidvalve "-1 y er 'In a feed water system", fa boiler, a "staf tionary 'charging tank'v situated above the valved yWater di sch arge between the* tank 'and i boiler-*and havingl a valved watervinlet, (a v haust :pipe leading `romthejtank, an' `air inlet and outlet, a'primary valvedsteam con nection between the stationary charging tank and 4said boiler, secondaryvalved-"steam connection between thestationary charging tank 'and said boiler, va vibratory yreceptacle the top ot whichfhas agvalvedsteain con# n'ection with the boilers steam space'and the bottom` of "which has discharge and' return water connections Withfthe boilers'wvater" space, said vibratory' receptaeleV arranged to receive and return waterfronfi andto the boiler, means for limiting the'movement ef said 'vibratoryreceptacle,fmeans for automatically vibrating saidfvibratory receptacle. means connectingthevvibra'tory receptacle with they valv'e'vof the exhaust 'pipe and the valve of" the primary steam-connection 0f the stationarychargingtank-andthe valve "of its ownlsteam lpipe vto Athereby operatesaid valves; andanf'elastic "connecti on between the vibratory receptacle` and the valve of the 'secondary steamy connection of the stationary charging tank* to 4thereby alfectthe operation of said valve, combined with Jme'ans', lfor locking and unlocking said y ibra'tory vessel" to permit 'and` prevent the vibration thereet, y

-5. "Inga feed water system a boilerfafstaftion'ary charging tank vsituated abovethe boilerfand having a rvalved water inlet, a valved:A water discharge, r connection between the-tank: and 'the water spa'ceot-the' boiler, a kvalved exhaust pipe leadingfrom'the tank, an 4air inlet'l and outlet,'afprir'nar'y valved steam connection between'the stationary cliairgingtank andsaid boiler, a'sec'ondary valved steam connection between the stationary charging tank and said boiler, a vibratory receptacle the top of which has a valved steam connection with the boilers steam space and the bottom of which has a discharge and a water return connection with the boilers water space, said vibratory receptacle arranged to receive and return water from and to the boiler, means for limiting the movement 0f said vibratory receptacle, means for automatically vibrating said vibratory receptacle, means connecting the vibratory receptacle with the valve of the exhaust pipe and the valve of the primary steam connection of the stationary charging tank and the valve of its own steam connection to thereby operate said valves, and an elastic connection between the vibratory receptacle and the valve of the secondary steam connection of the stationary charging tank tothereby affect the operation of said valve, combined with means for locking and unlocking said vibratory vessel to permit and prevent its vibration, said locking and unlocking means consisting of a vessel and auxiliaries, said vessel in open communicationwith the water chamber and steam chamber of the boiler and arranged to vibrate in unison with the fluctuation of the water level in said water chamber to thereby start and stop the vibratory receptacle,

6. In a feed water system a boiler, a stationary charging tank situated above the boiler and having a valved water inlet, a valved water discharge connection between the tank and the water space of the boiler,l

a valved exhaust pipe leading from the tank, and air inlet and outlet, a primary valved steam connection 'between the stationary changing, tank and said boiler, a secondary valved steam connection between the stationary charging tank and said boiler, a vibratory receptacle, the top of which has a valved steam connection with the boilers steam space and the bottom of which has a discharge and a water return connection with the boilers water space, said vibratory receptacle arranged to receive and return water from and to the boiler, means for limitingl the movement of said vibratory receptacle, means for automatically vibrating said vibratory receptacle, means connecting the vibratory receptacle with the valve of the exhaust pipe and the valve of the primary steam connection of the stationary charging tank and the valve of its own steam connection to thereby operate said valves, and an elastic connect-ion between the vibratory receptacle and the valve of the sec* ondary steam connection of the stationary charging tank to thereby affect the operation of said valve, combined with means for locking and unlocking saidvibratory vessel to permit and prevent its vibration, said locking and unlocking means controlled by the rise and fall of the water in the boiler.

7. In a feed water system, a pipe leading exhaust steam to the feed water well and terminating in a T within said well, branch pipes leading from said T, a second T enclosing the pipe and T leading the exhaust to the well, and branch pipes projecting from the second T to enclose and project be'- yond the branch pipes of the first T.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

GEORGE W. COPE. 

